Pacific Wilderness, Inc. - California
The team at Pacific Wilderness, Inc. are the real deal, a staple in the SoCal dive scene since '53. What we love about them isn't just their longevity, it's their commitment to good diving, right here in California's often-underrated waters. They’re a PADI 5 Star IDC centre, which means they churn out some seriously competent divers and instructors. If you're looking to go pro, or just want training that feels thorough and genuinely useful for cold-water conditions, this is our pick. Their strength really lies in their local knowledge and community feel. They run regular trips to local spots like Catalina and the Channel Islands. We've always found their boat charters well-organised, and the divemasters know where the good stuff is – think giant kelp forests swaying like slow-motion trees, with playful sea lions zipping between the fronds. We’d suggest chatting with them about gear for colder water, as they’ll give you solid advice based on actual local experience, not just what’s trendy. They’re excellent for anyone serious about diving in California, from your Open Water certification right through to instructor level.
- Location
- California, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 33.728283, -118.288190
- Phone
- +1 310-833-2422
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://pacificwilderness.com/
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star IDC [padi:2198]
- Address
- 1719 South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, California 90731-4728, United States
Dive Sites Near Pacific Wilderness, Inc.
Pacific Wilderness, Inc. provides access to 15 dive sites in California.
Other Dive Centres in California
- Adventure Sports Unlimited - PADI
- Adventure West Scuba - PADI
- Aloha Scuba
- Anderson's SCUBA diving
- Any Water Dive Center - PADI, DAN
- Aquanautics Dive, Inc - ["PADI"]
- Aquarius Dive Shop
- Aqua Safaris - EFR, DAN
- Aqua Sports
- ASD Scuba School
Best Time to Dive in California
The warmest water temperatures in California occur in August, averaging 20.6°C (up to 24.0°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 14.0°C.
The calmest sea conditions are typically in July with average wave heights of 0.60m.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 14.4°C (air: 14.0°C)
- February: 14.0°C (air: 13.8°C)
- March: 14.2°C (air: 13.3°C)
- April: 14.9°C (air: 14.3°C)
- May: 16.6°C (air: 15.4°C)
- June: 18.9°C (air: 17.4°C)
- July: 20.4°C (air: 18.9°C)
- August: 20.6°C (air: 19.6°C)
- September: 20.4°C (air: 19.7°C)
- October: 18.8°C (air: 18.4°C)
- November: 16.3°C (air: 16.0°C)
- December: 15.6°C (air: 14.3°C)
Marine Life in California
Home to 10 recorded species including 8 reef fish, 1 other, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Marine Life
- Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- Little post horn squid (Spirula spirula) - Octopus & Squid
- Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) - Reef Fish
- cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for California
Based on average water temperature of 17.1°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories